Chapter 5 DISCOVERING THE GEM

Rose and Damian stood in the unsettling silence after the battle, the Moonstone's gentle glow casting long shadows across the ground. The air felt heavy, still thrumming with the remnants of the dark power that had tried to tear through their world. The weight of what had just happened-what they'd narrowly survived-hung between them. They'd won this battle, but it felt like only the beginning of something much worse.

Rose's mind raced. Ryan was dead, his body left twisted and withered by whatever dark pact he'd made. She stared at his lifeless form for a long moment, feeling neither satisfaction nor sorrow. He'd chosen his path. But the figure-the one who had emerged from the Void to manipulate him-that creature haunted her thoughts. Whoever or whatever it was, it wasn't finished.

Damian broke the silence first. "We can't stay here."

Rose snapped out of her thoughts, blinking at him. "Luna," she muttered. "We need to get back to her. She might know what the hell that was."

"Agreed," Damian said, but his eyes lingered on Ryan's body, his jaw tight. "And fast. There's no telling what else is out there, waiting for us."

Without another word, they began their trek back through the mountains. The silence of the trail felt oppressive, like the land itself was holding its breath after the fight. Even the wind seemed reluctant to stir. Rose kept the Moonstone close, its glow giving her some small comfort despite the ominous weight it carried.

When they reached Luna's sanctuary, the moon was already high. It bathed the clearing in silver light, making the air around Luna's simple cottage shimmer like a dream. Luna was waiting for them at the door, her silver hair rippling as she stepped into the moonlight.

"You've done it," she said softly, her gaze falling on the Moonstone in Rose's hand.

Rose nodded but didn't feel any triumph. "We have the stone. But there's a lot we don't understand."

Luna's face darkened, her lips pressing into a tight line. She glanced at Damian, then back at Rose. "Come inside. There's much to discuss."

They followed Luna into the cottage, its warmth immediately making the cold weight of the world outside feel distant for a brief moment. The smell of herbs and wood smoke filled the air, comforting in its simplicity. Luna moved gracefully across the room, her hands deftly lighting a few more candles, though her movements felt weighted with the knowledge she hadn't yet shared. She gestured for them to sit at the rough-hewn wooden table in the center of the room.

Rose sank into a chair, her body aching from the strain of the fight. Damian stood behind her, leaning on his sword as though ready for another battle at any moment. His eyes scanned the room, but it was clear he was just as on edge as Rose.

"We killed Ryan," Rose said finally, her voice low and strained. "But something else-someone else-was there. It came from the Void, I think. It took him... before we could get any answers."

Luna nodded, unsurprised. She sighed deeply, settling into the chair across from Rose. "The Void is stirring, as I feared. It feeds on imbalance, on the cracks between our world and the one beyond. And now that you've found the Moonstone, it will hunger for more."

Damian, ever direct, cut in. "What exactly is this Moonstone? We were told it was powerful, but not much more than that. Now we're hearing it's one of seven? That it holds the balance between worlds?" His tone was sharp, frustration and exhaustion creeping into his voice. "We're flying blind here."

Luna looked at the Moonstone in Rose's hand. The pale light reflected in her eyes, giving her an almost ethereal appearance as she spoke. "The Moonstone, like the others, was forged long ago. It is not merely an object of power; it is a part of the foundation of both worlds-the human realm and the magical one. The seven stones together are what keep the balance between the worlds intact. But separated, they are unstable. Dangerous."

Rose frowned. "Dangerous how? We've only just started to understand what this thing can do."

"The stones are tied to the very fabric of reality itself," Luna explained. "Each stone controls a force of magic fundamental to both worlds-time, space, life, death, and others. As long as they remain apart, their full power is dormant. But if someone were to gather all seven, they would have the ability to reshape reality." She paused, her gaze hardening. "The Void knows this. It wants that power, and it will stop at nothing to claim the stones for itself."

Damian let out a slow breath. "So we're dealing with entities that want to use the stones to tear the world apart?"

Luna nodded grimly. "Yes. And they've already begun to act. Ryan, your cousin, was but one of many who will be drawn to the promise of power the Void offers. He was weak, manipulated into doing their bidding."

Rose's stomach twisted. As much as she had despised Ryan, it sickened her to think of how he had been used, how much he'd lost for the promise of power. But that was the least of her worries now.

"We can't let them find the other stones," Rose said firmly, straightening in her chair. "We need to get to them first."

Luna's eyes softened, but her voice remained serious. "The Moonstone will lead you to the others. But be warned-each stone is heavily guarded, hidden in places few dare to venture. And the closer you come to reuniting the stones, the more dangerous your path will become."

Rose glanced at Damian. "We don't have a choice."

He gave a short nod, the steel in his gaze matching her determination. "Where's the next one?"

Luna rose from her seat, moving to the far side of the room where a large, ancient map of the world hung on the wall. It was faded with age, the ink smudged in places, but its details were intricate. Luna placed her hand on the map, and a soft glow emanated from her palm. As she traced her fingers across the surface, the map came to life, shimmering with magical energy.

"There," she said, pointing to a distant land across the sea. "The Sunstone lies deep in the ruins of the Sun Palace, an ancient stronghold once ruled by a powerful empire long gone. But the Sunstone is not unguarded. The trials of the Sun Palace are as deadly as they are cunning."

Damian rubbed the back of his neck. "Sounds like we'll have our work cut out for us."

Rose stared at the glowing point on the map, her resolve hardening. "We'll go. But we need allies."

Luna turned back to them, her expression thoughtful. "The clans will need to be united if you are to succeed. Werewolves, elves, dragons... all of them must stand together. Only then can we face the Void and its forces. The mountain packs are already preparing to aid you, but you will need more."

Rose nodded. The thought of rallying the clans, of convincing them to set aside their old grudges, seemed like an impossible task. But there was no alternative. "I'll make them see reason. They'll fight, whether they like it or not."

Luna smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "I hope you're right, Rose. The clans have their own rivalries, their own histories. It won't be easy."

"I don't care about easy," Rose said, standing up from her chair. "I care about winning."

Damian glanced at Luna, then at Rose. "We'll need supplies, information, and a way across the sea without drawing attention."

Luna nodded. "You'll have what you need. But be careful-word of your victory over Ryan will spread. Others will come for you, both from this world and beyond. And not everyone will be as they seem."

Rose's mind flicked to the shadowy figure from the Void, the one who had taken Ryan's life. She clenched her fists. "We'll be ready."

As Luna handed the Moonstone back to her, Rose felt its weight in her hand-a reminder of the perilous road ahead. The stone's glow seemed to pulse with energy, as if it was aware of the dangers that awaited them.

"We'll set out at first light," Damian said, already thinking ahead. "The longer we wait, the more time we give our enemies."

Rose nodded in agreement. "We have to keep moving."

But even as they made plans to leave, Rose couldn't shake the feeling that something-or someone-was watching them. The shadows outside the cottage seemed to stir with a life of their own, and a chill crept up her spine. She glanced at Damian, who was already sharpening his blade, his face set in grim determination.

The battle wasn't over. It had only just begun.

...

The sun had barely risen when Rose and Damian left Luna's sanctuary behind, the path ahead winding through mist-covered hills and into the unknown. The weight of the Moonstone in Rose's hand was a constant reminder of the stakes, of the threat lurking just beyond the horizon. But she wouldn't stop. Not until she had found the other stones. Not until the Void was no longer a threat. Not until she had avenged her mother.

And as the first light of dawn pierced the mist, Rose took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing in determination. No matter the dangers ahead, she would not fail.

Rose clenched her fists, her vision swimming with memories and emotions. She forced herself to focus, to pull back from the edge of her grief. There was no time for mourning. Not yet. Whoever had orchestrated her mother's death was still out there, and Rose needed to find them.

She turned slowly away from the grave, every step deliberate, as if moving too fast would shatter the fragile resolve she clung to. The revelations from the Dreamscape gnawed at her mind. Her mother had been expecting someone, but there had been fear... and not just from the attack. Her mother had been anticipating the arrival of someone or something, and that fact alone filled Rose with more questions than answers.

Her mother's death was not just a simple murder. No, this was far more intricate, and the layers of deceit were thick. As she walked down the mist-laden path of the graveyard, her eyes narrowed in thought. The shades she'd witnessed in the Dreamscape-their confusion, their erratic behavior-only solidified one fact: her mother wasn't the only victim in this twisted game.

"Rose," a voice called from behind her.

She stopped but didn't turn around. She recognized that voice all too well.

Damian approached, his expression unreadable as he stepped beside her, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. He studied her face carefully. "What did you find?"

Rose exhaled, shaking her head. "It's worse than I thought. I don't think the woman buried here... was really my mother."

Damian's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"She was expecting someone. The Dreamscape showed me enough to know that much. But the shades surrounding her death-they don't add up. Someone used her image, her essence, to trick me. They've hidden the truth, and I think her death is only the beginning."

A silence passed between them, thick with unspoken tension. Damian's eyes clouded with thought, his mind clearly racing. "So... what are you suggesting? A body double? Some sort of magic?"

Rose shrugged. "Could be. But the more important question is-why? What were they trying to hide? And more importantly-where's my real mother?"

Damian sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "This goes deeper than we realized. If your mother is missing, then we're dealing with someone who has enough power to manipulate the Dreamscape and conceal the truth. Someone who doesn't want you getting close."

Rose's jaw tightened. "Whoever they are, they've made a mistake. If they wanted to throw me off, it's only made me more determined."

Damian gave her a sidelong glance, his lips quirking into a faint smile. "I figured you'd say that."

Rose's mind was already racing ahead, connecting dots, sifting through old memories for any clue she might've missed. "I need to go back to the house," she said. "There might be something there. Some trace of whoever orchestrated this."

Damian raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you already check the house? I thought everything was scrubbed clean."

"I did," Rose admitted. "But I was looking for the wrong thing. I was focused on finding traces of her death, but now I think I need to look deeper-look for signs of someone else. Whoever was in her life before she died."

Damian nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll come with you."

---

They returned to the house in silence, the night cloaking the streets in an oppressive darkness. Rose's family home loomed ahead, its windows dark and lifeless. It felt more like a tomb than a place of living, breathing memories.

Rose pushed open the door, the creak of its hinges loud in the quiet. She stepped inside, her boots thudding softly against the wooden floor. Everything was exactly as she had left it during her first visit. Cold. Empty. Devoid of life.

Damian followed behind her, his eyes scanning the room as he closed the door. "Where do we start?"

Rose walked toward the small study room that had belonged to her mother. The room felt untouched by time, a perfect replica of the past. Her mother had always been meticulous-every book, every scroll, every artifact had its place. It was one of the few rooms Rose hadn't completely torn apart during her earlier investigation. Perhaps that was her mistake.

She moved to the center of the room and closed her eyes, extending her senses. Slowly, she began to peel back the layers of magic woven into the fabric of the house. It took time-her mother had left wards and enchantments to protect her secrets. But Rose's magic was strong, and she had been trained by the best.

The air in the room shifted. A faint, pulsing hum filled her ears, a vibration that resonated through her very bones.

"There's something here," she whispered.

Damian approached, his brow furrowed. "What is it?"

Rose moved toward one of the bookcases. Her fingers brushed the spines of the books before settling on one-an old, leather-bound journal that looked out of place amidst the more recent times. She pulled it free, and the pulsing hum grew louder.

"Found something," she said, flipping it open.

The pages were filled with notes and sketches-her mother's handwriting. Rose's heart clenched as she skimmed through them, recognizing many of the spells and theories her mother had been working on. But then she turned the page and froze.

The sketches were different now. They depicted strange symbols, symbols that Rose didn't recognize. But they weren't the only thing that caught her eye. There, on the margins of the page, were names-names of people Rose had never heard of, with strange markings next to them.

"What is this?" Damian muttered, peering over her shoulder.

Rose shook her head, feeling a chill creep down her spine. "These aren't just notes. These are... targets."

Damian's eyes widened. "Targets? What, like... assassination targets?"

Rose nodded, her breath catching in her throat. "These people... whoever they are, my mother was keeping track of them. Or someone was using her to track them."

Her heart raced as her mind pieced together the implications. Her mother had been involved in something dangerous, something that went beyond mere family feuds. Whoever had her mother was using her knowledge for a purpose, and it likely involved these people.

Damian reached out and pointed to one name on the list. "This one," he said, his voice low. "That's not a normal name."

Rose's eyes narrowed as she read the name aloud. "Isador."

"I've heard that name before," Damian said, rubbing his chin. "Not recently, but..."

"Who is he?"

"He's a ghost. A legend," Damian explained. "Rumor has it, Isador is the head of a shadow faction that controls the flow of power in certain parts of the magical world. No one's ever seen his face, but the destruction left in his wake is always unmistakable."

Rose felt the cold weight of dread settle over her. If Isador was involved, this was far more serious than she'd anticipated.

"And now we know who's after you," Damian said quietly. "If Isador has your mother, he's not just using her for information. He's going to exploit her knowledge of magic and her connections."

Rose's resolve hardened. "Then we find Isador. And we take him down."

---

They left the house behind, setting their sights on the first name in her mother's journal-a name linked to a notorious underground organization known for trafficking magical artifacts. The journey took them to the outskirts of the city, to a decrepit mansion hidden in a forest that seemed to swallow the moonlight whole.

Damian glanced at Rose as they approached the entrance, his expression grim. "You ready for this?"

Rose gripped the hilt of the dagger strapped to her thigh. "I was born ready."

The mansion was silent as they crept through the overgrown courtyard, the only sounds coming from the rustling of the wind and the distant hooting of an owl. Rose could feel the tension building, a palpable energy in the air.

Suddenly, the door to the mansion creaked open, and a figure emerged from the shadows.

"Who goes there?" the figure demanded, his voice sharp and accusatory.

Damian stepped forward, his hand raised in a gesture of peace. "We're here to speak with your boss. It's important."

The figure hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he studied them. "Who sent you?"

"Rose Frey," she said, stepping out of the shadows. "And I'm here for answers."

The name seemed to hit the man like a physical blow. His eyes widened in recognition, and he quickly stepped aside, motioning for them to enter. "Follow me."

They were led through the dimly lit halls of the mansion, the air thick with dust and the scent of decay. Finally, they reached a large room at the back of the mansion, where an imposing man sat behind a desk, surrounded by ancient tomes and magical artifacts.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Rose met his gaze without flinching. "I'm Rose Frey. You knew my mother."

The man's eyes darkened. "Selene Frey... Yes, I remember her. What do you want?"

Rose tossed the journal onto the desk, the pages fluttering open to the list of names. "You're on this list. My mother was tracking you, along with several others. I want to know why. And I want to know who ordered her to do it."

The man's eyes flicked down to the journal, and for the briefest moment, something like fear passed over his features. He quickly masked it with indifference, leaning back in his chair.

"Your mother was involved in many things," he said slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. "But if you've come here seeking to understand her motives, you're barking up the wrong tree. Selene Frey had her own agenda, one that even her closest allies didn't always understand."

Rose felt the burn of frustration rise in her chest. "Then why were you on her radar? Why were these other names in her notes?"

The man's lips twisted into a small smile, but it was devoid of warmth. "Because your mother was trying to protect you."

The words hit Rose like a blow to the gut. "What...?"

"Your mother was a powerful woman, Rose. But she was also a realist. She knew the forces that were coming for your family-coming for you, specifically-long before they made their move. She began tracking individuals who had the power, knowledge, or connections that could be used against you."

He motioned to the journal. "That list of names? Those aren't her enemies, girl. They're yours."

Rose's mouth went dry. "Why didn't she tell me? Why didn't she warn me?"

The man's expression softened, just slightly. "Because she knew that if you were aware, you'd fight. And if you fought, you'd die. Your mother believed she could handle it herself. She always thought she was strong enough to protect you from the shadows." He sighed, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. "But it seems even Selene Frey underestimated what she was up against."

Rose's fists clenched at her sides. She felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. Her mother's death, the strange behavior of the shades-everything was starting to make a sick sort of sens.